AN under-fire tourist attraction in Dalton has drafted in a highly regarded industry expert after its owner was accused of putting staff and the public at risk by using "out-of-date practices".
The Evening Mail understands that experienced zookeeper David Armitage was appointed at South Lakes Safari Zoo shortly after an official inspection revealed a host of health and safety failings.
Mr Armitage is a well respected industry expert who was formerly collections manager at the World Owl Trust. He has more than 45 years' experience as a zookeeper and is understood to have worked at attractions including Chester Zoo and an animal park at Lisieux in France.
Members of online industry forum ZooChat describe Mr Armitage "a true grafter and proper no-nonsense zoo man" who has a vast amount of experience.
One member posted: "The hiring or secondment of David Armitage is certainly most welcome and hopefully will bring the facility into line with zoos of similar size and stature as well as reap its full potential."
David Armitage Mr Armitage's appointment comes after the management structure at South Lakes Safari Zoo was criticised by the two Defra-appointed inspectors who visited Dalton on November 18 and 19.
In their report, the inspectors claimed owner David Gill was "implementing out-of-date practices and refusing to implement modern zoo practices" which has resulted in "animal welfare issues, a higher-than-expected mortality rate among the animals, higher-than-expected incidents (such as injuries to the public from animals) and places both staff and the public potentially in danger".
In their opinion, a new full-time director or senior manager was needed, who would have "day-to-day responsibility for the running of the zoo, will be able to make decisions independent of the owner and will be fully responsible... for the conduct of the zoo".
The inspectors said the new manager "cannot be someone who will spend large parts of the year absent from the site" - understood to be a reference to Mr Gill's commitments to global conservation projects and regular trips to his ranch in Wyoming in the USA.
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